Article 19 of the Saudi Civil Service Law
المادة 19 من نظام الخدمة المدنية · الفصل الثالث: الرواتب والعلاوات
The article provides for paying half the net basic salary of an employee suspended from duty, held in precautionary detention or detained in private rights, and states when the other half is paid and when what was paid is not recovered.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
أ- يصرف للموظف المكفوف اليد ومن في حكمه، أو الموقوف احتياطياً نصف صافي راتبه الأساسي، فإن برّئ أو عوقب بغير الفصل فيصرف له النصف الباقي منه. ولا يستعاد ما صرف له إذا عوقب بالفصل.
ب- يصرف للموظف الموقوف في حقوق خاصة نصف صافي راتبه الأساسي، وذلك لمدة لا تزيد على سنتين. فإن عاد لمباشرة عمله قبل انتهاء هذه المدة يصرف له النصف الباقي منه. أما إذا استمر إيقافه فيطوى قيده ولا يصرف له النصف الباقي من راتبه، ولا يستعاد ما صرف له
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 19 explained in plain English
This article deals with an employee's salary during the period his hands are tied or he is detained, and distinguishes between two cases:
First case (paragraph a): the employee suspended from duty or the like, or held in precautionary detention
- He is paid half of his net basic salary.
- If he is acquitted or punished with something other than dismissal, he is paid the other half.
- If he is punished with dismissal, what was paid to him is not recovered from him.
Second case (paragraph b): the employee detained in private rights
- He is paid half of his net basic salary for a period not exceeding two years.
- If he returns to work before this period ends, he is paid the other half.
- If his detention continues, his record is closed and he is not paid the other half of his salary, and what was paid to him is not recovered.
Note that the calculation is based on the net basic salary, as the text states. The article does not define what is meant by "the like" or the procedures for suspension from duty, as the text does not include these matters.
The article is connected to Article 20, which provides that if the employee is detained because of a claim for a debt owed to the government, his basic salary is paid to him, and which sets a limit on attachment of salary. Article 18 also deals with salary on appointment, promotion and return to service.
Anyone suspended from duty or detained would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters, and a lawyer specializing in criminal matters if the detention is linked to a criminal case.
Practical example
An employee at a government body in Riyadh was suspended from work during an investigation, and was paid half of his net basic salary. The matter ended with his acquittal, so under this article the other half is paid to him for that period.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 19 of the Saudi Civil Service Law
How much of his salary is paid to an employee suspended from duty?
Article 19 provides that half of his net basic salary is paid.
Does the employee get the rest of his salary if he is acquitted?
Yes. If he is acquitted or punished with something other than dismissal, the other half is paid to him.
What happens to the salary of an employee detained in private rights?
He is paid half of his net basic salary for a period not exceeding two years; if he returns before it ends the other half is paid to him, and if his detention continues his record is closed and he is not paid the other half.
Is what was paid to the employee recovered if he is dismissed?
No. The article provides that what was paid to him is not recovered if he is punished with dismissal.
Amendment history
Amendment
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عُدلت المادة (19) لتكون بالنص الآتي:
"أ- يصرف للموظف المكفوف اليد ومن في حكمه، أو الموقوف احتياطياً نصف صافي راتبه الأساسي، فإن برّئ أو عوقب بغير الفصل فيصرف له النصف الباقي منه. ولا يستعاد ما صرف له إذا عوقب بالفصل.
ب- يصرف للموظف الموقوف في حقوق خاصة نصف صافي راتبه الأساسي، وذلك لمدة لا تزيد على سنتين. فإن عاد لمباشرة عمله قبل انتهاء هذه المدة يصرف له النصف الباقي منه. أما إذا استمر إيقافه فيطوى قيده ولا يصرف له النصف الباقي من راتبه، ولا يستعاد ما صرف له".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يصرف للموظف المكفوف اليد ومن في حكمه نصف صافي راتبه فإذا برئ أو عوقب بغير الفصل يصرف له الباقي من راتبه. أما إذا عوقب بالفصل فلا يستعاد ما صرف له ما لم تقرر الجهة التي أصدرت قرار العقوبة غير ذلك.
More articles on Employee Salaries and Increments
- Article 16
The article provides that the employee is entitled to his salary from the date he starts work.
يستحق الموظف راتبه اعتباراً من تاريخ مباشرته العمل.
- Article 17
The article provides for granting the employee the allowance by moving him to the step immediately following in the same grade under the salary scale, starting from the first day of each fiscal year.
يمنح الموظف العلاوة وفق سلم الرواتب الملحق بهذا النظام، وذلك بمنحه الدرجة التالية المباشرة للدرجة التي يشغلها في المرتبة نفسها. ويتم ذلك ابتداءً من أول يوم في ك
- Article 18Amended (1438 AH)
The article sets the step an employee is placed on when appointed, promoted or returned to service, ensuring a promoted employee's increase is not less than the allowance of his previous grade.
أ - يمنح الموظف المعين راتب أول درجة في مرتبة الوظيفة التي عين عليها، فإذا كان راتبه عند التعيين يساوي راتب هذه الدرجة أو يزيد عليه؛ يمنح راتب أول درجة تتجاوز ر
- Article 20Amended
Article 20 bars attachment of an employee's salary except by order of the competent authority, caps it at one-third of net monthly salary (excluding alimony debt), and provides basic salary for an employee detained over a government debt.
لا يجوز الحجز على شيء من راتب الموظف إلا بأمر من الجهة المختصة، ولا يجوز أن يتجاوز المقدار المحجوز في الشهر ثلث صافي راتبه الشهري ما عدا دين النفقة، وإذا كان ال
- Article 21
Article 21 links salary to actual work: an employee is not entitled to salary for days and hours in which he does not perform his work, subject to other laws and regulations.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة واللوائح الأخرى، لا يستحق الموظف راتباً عن الأيام والساعات التي لا يباشر فيها عمله
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.